Seal between relatively rotatable parts



June 3, 1952 w. H. PARK SEAL BETWEEN RELATIVELY ROTATABLE PARTS Filed July 5, 1949 Liv means may be provided to enable a pressure toV be maintained between the flexiblerings I8 in the annular chamber 3 equal to or in excess of the pressure to be sealed. For example in the case of a pump a conduit 23 may be provided for the delivery of fluid from the discharge side of the pump to the annular chamber 3 and between the rings, the discharge pressure of a pump usually being greater than the outside pressure at the sealing surfaces. Alternatively a separate source of excess pressure may be connected by way of conduit 23 with the annular space 3 between the rings I8 or a non-return grease nipple may beprovided to enable oil or grease to Ybe introduced to the space 3 under pressure with the aid of a grease gun,

, lThe improved seal is equally effective to preventleakage from within or into the casing I past the shaft 2, according as the pressure within the casing I is greater or less than the external pressure.

When necessary effective cooling of the parts of the seal may be carried out in a simple manner.

In this case, as shown in Fig 2, the outer end of the aperture through the casing I is closed by an `apertured end plate 24v, surrounding the shaft 2, this plate 24 being counterbored as shown at'25'for the reception of packing rings 26 anda gland ring 21.

Inletand outlet rpassages'2'8 and 29V for water or other coolingfluid are provided. in the vplate 24 these Apassages leading to the annular space 3` at a point beyond the outer end of the floating sleeve I so that the cooling fluid has access to the space between the floating sleeve I5 and the shaft 2 and to the parts bearing the sealing surfaces II and II,'. in rubbing contact with one another@y v 'What `is claimed is: Y 1'.- Means for providing a mechanical seal between a housing and ashaft extending through it and arranged for relative rotation', comprising an annular sealing surface at one endA ofv an annular space between the said relatively rotatable parts and fixed with regard to one Vof said relativelyrotatable parts, a sleeve surrounding the shaft with clearance and adapted yto float in said annular space, a second annular sealing surface at one end of said sleeve and adapted to make rubbing contact with the rst mentioned sealing surface, a rpair of channel section flexible rings disposed inthe annular space and surrounding the floating sleeve withV the open ends of Vthe channels towards ,one another,Y a first abutment on the vsleeve engaged bytheV outer surface Vof the bottom of one of said channel section flexible rings and a second abutment fixed with regard to the housingand engaged bythe outer surface of the bottom of the other of said chan; nel section flexible rings, said rings being frictionallyheld against the housing on one side and frictionally held against the sleeve on the otherside, andmeans biasing said rings away from. one another to maintain'rubbing contact between the two annular sealing surfaces.

. 2.` Means for providing 'a mechanicalsealibe-V,

4. tween a housing and a shaft extending through it and arranged for relative rotation, comprising an annular sealing surface at one end of an annular space between the said relatively rotatable partsand fixed with regard to one of said relativelyrotatable parts, a sleeve surrounding the shaft with clearance and adapted to float in said annular space, a second annular sealing sur- -face at one end of said sleeve and adapted to make rubbing contact with the first mentioned sealing surface, a pair of channel section ilexiblerings disposed in the annular space and surroundingV the. floating sleeve with the open Vends of the channels towards one another, a first abutment on the sleeve engaged by the outer surface of the bottom of one of said channel sectionI flexible rings and a second abutment fixed vv'with regard to the housing and engaged by the outer surface of the bottom of the other of said channel section flexible rings and a compression spring surrounding the sleeve and engaging with its ends within the channel section flexible rings, said rings being frictionally held againsttlie housing on one side and frictionally held against the sleeve on the other side.

3.-Means for providing a mechanical seal between a housing and a shaft extending through it and arranged for relative rotation', comprising an annular sealing surface'at one end of an annular space between the said `relatively` rotatableparts and xed with regard to'one of said relatively rotatable parts, a sleeve surrounding the shaft with clearance and adapted to float in said annular space, Va second annular sealing surface at one end of said sleeve'and adapted to make rubbing contact with the rst 'mentioned sealing surface, a pair of channel section flexible rings disposed in the annular space and surrounding the floating sleeve with the open ends of the channels towards one another, ar first abutment on the sleeve engaged by the outer surface of the bottom of one of said channel section flexible rings and a second abutment fixed with regard to the housing andengaged by the outer surface of the bottom of theother of said channel section flexible rings, Vsaid ringsbeing frictionally held against the housing on" o ne ,side and frictionally held against the sleeve o'n the other side, and a conduit leading through T the housing to the annular space betweenthesaid channel section flexible rings for the-introduce tion of a pressure fluid. f i Y 4. Means for providing a mechanicaI seal; between a housing and a shaft extending through it'and arranged for relative rotation,` compris.- ing an annular sealing surface at one end-of an annular space between' thersaid relatively rotatable parts and 'fixed with regard to one of said relatively rotatable parts, a sleeve surround' ing the shaft with clearance and extending over a part only of Ythe length of the said annular space and adapted to float in said annular space, a second annular sealing surfaceA at one end' of said sleeve and adapted to make rubbing contact with the first mentioned sealing surface,ja pair' of channel section flexible. rings disposed in the annular space and surroundingV the floating sleeve with Ithe open ends of the channels towards one another, a first abutment on the sleeve engaged by the outer surfaceofthe bottom of one of said channel section flexible rings and second abutment Yfixed with regardto thehousj. ing and engaged by the outer surface of the bot- 4r tom lofthe other of said channelsecton flexible 5 rings. said rings being frictonally held against the housing on one side and frictonally held against the sleeve on the other side,` and means biasing said rings away from one another to maintain rubbing contact between the two annularv sealing surfaces, and passages to and from the exterior to end of the annular space remote from the sealing surfaces for the circulation of cooling uid in the space between the shaft and the oating sleeve.

HELEN PARK,

Executrza: of the Estate of William Hutcheson Park, Deceased.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,898,278 Weis Feb. 21, 1933 2,419,588 Pasco Apr. 29, 1947 2,479,236 Hanson Aug. 16, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 564,714 Great Britain Oct. 10, 1944 

